Daniel Gagnier, Jean Charest's Senior Aide, Replaced

MONTREAL - In the midst of a social crisis, Premier Jean Charest is replacing his most senior aide and bringing back a right-hand man with a reputation for steady competence.

The premier's chief of staff has resigned and is being replaced by Daniel Gagnier, who is being brought back to his old position after three years away from politics.

Gagnier is being given a mandate to kick-start negotiations with student groups and seek a resolution to the unrest plaguing the province, before tourists flock to Montreal for festival season.

He has previously been a high-ranking civil servant in Ottawa and Saskatchewan and was also chief of staff to former Ontario premier David Peterson. Outside politics, he has worked in mining, the shale gas industry, clean energy and university governance.

His previous stint in the premier's office coincided with an era when Charest was at his most popular — from 2007 to 2009.

At a time when Charest had a tenuous hold on power, Gagnier left a senior position at Alcan to work with him and he remained with the premier while he led a minority government; he left after Charest won another majority.

Since Gagnier's departure, the Charest government has been consistently rocked by ethics scandals and now by the student-led unrest. An election is expected within months.

The Canadian Press has learned that Gagnier has already been heavily involved in the student file in recent weeks, having offered his help as a volunteer.